MCC decides against bidding for Indian Premier League franchises

The MCC has announced that it has decided against bidding for either of the
two new Indian Premier League franchises.

Franchise opportunity: Lalit Modi believes that a Premier League football club owner could bid for an IPL franchisePhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff and agencies

5:19PM GMT 05 Mar 2010

The owners of future franchises are expected to be unveiled on Sunday, less than a week before the start of the third IPL season.

It had been reported the MCC might bid, and chief executive Keith Bradshaw confirmed on Friday that the issue was given serious consideration.

However, an MCC statement issued on Friday afternoon read: "MCC has today confirmed that it was not part of the bids that were lodged in Mumbai for the two new Indian Premier League franchises.

"The MCC committee had met earlier this week at Lord's to discuss its potential involvement with an IPL franchise. The MCC committee has further decided that its best position lies in a broader relationship with the IPL as a whole."

A small working party subsequently reported back to the MCC committee.

Bradshaw said: "After a healthy debate and a thorough investigation, MCC's committee has decided to uphold the recommendation of our working party not to proceed as an equity stakeholder in a new IPL franchise.

"Having said that, we will continue to discuss other ideas with the IPL and, through their support of the MCC Spirit of Cricket campaign, maintain a close working relationship with them."

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi last week suggested a Barclays Premier League football club might be among the parties interested in acquiring a franchise stake.

It was announced this week that the IPL would be available for live free-to-air broadcast after ITV agreed a deal which will see all but one of this season's matches shown on the company's ITV4 channel - available to non-subscribing digital viewers.

Bradshaw said: "The world of cricket is fast-changing, and there's no doubt the IPL is going to be a central part of that world for the foreseeable future.

"We will remain in close contact with the IPL to develop mutually beneficial opportunities."

MCC president John Barclay and head of cricket John Stephenson will travel to India next week to attend the IPL opening ceremony in Mumbai.

At the ceremony, eight team leaders will sign a 'Captain's Charter' to once again adhere to the MCC Spirit of Cricket 'Play Hard, Play Fair' principles.